The Brave Front

By Tim Beynon

The men's mental health podcast packed with inspiring stories of mental strength, courage and adventure. Hosted by journalist, runner and men's health advocate, Tim Beynon, the fortnightly show featur... more

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FAQs about The Brave Front:

How many episodes does The Brave Front have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.

The Brave Front episodes:

November 06, 2023 Living with autism and making it in music: Andrew Kingslow
Successful music producer, Andrew Kingslow, has worked alongside music royalty including John Legend and BB King. However, throughout his illustrious career he has struggled with anxiety and depression, eventually receiving a diagnosis of autism as an adult. In our exclusive interview, Andrew tells us how he masked his autism from the world, overcame a host of personal demons and took the brave step to seek support. And today, as an ambassador for the neurodivergent community across the music industry, he talks about his hope to help others to overcome the challenges and barriers that he faced.
Show outline:
00:00:07 - 00:03:05 - Introduction and sneak preview
00:03:06 - 00:11:20 - Andrew’s career - from John Legend to Rastamouse
00:12:54 - 00:17:34 - Working as ‘the Neuro Muso’
00:17:45 - 00:30:54 - Living with autism and being diagnosed as an adult
00:30:55 - 00:36:34 - The lowest point and climbing out
00:36:35 - 00:44:15 - Changing the music industry
00:44:16 - 00:49:05 - Looking to the future
Useful links:
Answer Andrew’s survey: Electric Pineapple And The London Autism Group Charity Survey: https://tinyurl.com/nd-musicians
Andrew Kingslow, the Neuro Muso website: https://theneuromuso.godaddysites.com/
London Autism Group Charity: https://www.londonautismgroupcharity.org/
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Amazon Music
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page
Get in touch
Send us a voice message
...more
51min
October 22, 2023 How sleep affects mental health - Prof Matt Jones
The quality of our sleep is central to our mental wellbeing, but the relationship between the two is complex. Professor of Neuroscience at Bristol University, Matt Jones, spends his days analysing other people’s nights, so we spoke to him to find out more about the science behind sleep and its impact on mental health. From grumpy mornings and insomnia, to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and PTSD, the amount we sleep could impact our every waking moment. Finding the answer to a perfect night’s sleep, meanwhile, could be as simple, as a siesta in a hammock. Make yourself a cocoa and settle down for a dreamlike Episode 4.
Show outline:
00:00:07 - 00:02:18 - Welcome to the episode
00:04:56 - 00:11:15 - Why do we need a good night’s sleep?
00:11:27 - 00:21:44 - Sleep and mental health
00:21:51 - 00:28:41 - Talking and other possible ways to improve sleep
00:28:42 - 00:31:14 - The power nap
00:31:08 - 00:38:34 - Sleep hygiene, exercise and racing thoughts
00:38:35 - 00:45:00 - Sleep changes with age and future studies
Useful links:
Professor Matt Jones - University of Bristol profile: Professor Matt Jones - Our People (bristol.ac.uk)
The science of Sleep with Matt Jones - YouTube: https://youtu.be/J9cVSnCVzbk?si=rQ3FzJNSsGl0Du27
Why can’t I sleep? The benefits of good sleep hygiene | Wellcome
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Amazon Music
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page
Get in touch
Send us a voice message
Full Transcript:
Click here: https://midlifeonearth.com/2023/10/23/the-brave-front-episode-4-how-sleep-affects-mental-health/
...more
48min
October 09, 2023 Is the Wim Hof method good for you?: Chris Ashworth
According to Wim Hof, the Ice Man, our physical and mental wellbeing benefits from routine exposure to the extreme cold. Through learning how to breathe, he says, we can control our anxiety and our body's reaction to panic. To find out more about how we can all benefit from rethinking the simple act of breathing, and re-evaluating our relationship with the cold, we speak to Chris Ashworth, a Level 2 Wim Hof Method instructor and ice bath regular.
Please remember to consult your GP and to do your research before attempting any kind of exposure to the cold as it is not without its risks.
Show outline:
00:00:07 - 00:03:58 - Welcome to the episode
00:03:59 - 00:09:12 - Ash’s background and breath journey
00:09:54 - 00:16:49 - Why we’re all breathing incorrectly
00:17:55 - 00:31:17 - Wim Hof, the cold and what to expect
00:31:23 - 00:48:21 - How to try it for yourself
Useful links:
Official Wim Hof Method website: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/
Wim Hof YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/wimhof1
Breath Is The Bridge - Chris Ashworth’s website https://www.breathisthebridge.co.uk/
Chris Ashworth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/breathisthebridge/
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0EMdA8CtAeeiEt5TXExZ4Z
Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brave-front-time-to-talk-about-mens-mental-health/id1702316026
Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lNGUxOTBiYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw
Amazon Music https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/d08abd4a-5bb0-418d-965f-5625b7ca1981/the-brave-front---time-to-talk-about-men's-mental-health
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page - https://open.spotify.com/show/0EMdA8CtAeeiEt5TXExZ4Z
Get in touch - https://tr.ee/hBFVwL17aK
Send us a voice message - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebravefront/message
Full transcription:
Click HERE to read the full show transcript. - https://midlifeonearth.com/2023/10/09/the-brave-front-episode-3-wim-hof-breathing-and-the-cold/
...more
51min
October 08, 2023 Trailer: Introducing The Brave Front
All you need to know about The Brave Front and what you can expect from each fortnightly episode
...more
1min
October 02, 2023Bonus: Andy's Man Club - The power of talking
In the UK, men are three times more likely to die from suicide than women, with those aged 40-49 having the highest suicide rate of all. Men are also more likely to develop alcohol dependency and use illegal drugs, and far less likely to access mental health support. So, in this bonus episode of The Brave Front, we caught up with Darren Edwards from Andy’s Man Club - a charity that offers men all over the UK a safe space to come to terms with the issues affecting their mental wellbeing - to talk about the options available to those worried for themselves, or someone else .
Useful links:
If you are at a point of crisis and need some support, here are some places you can turn to today:
⁠Andy's Man Club⁠

Samaritans⁠… - Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

⁠Mind ⁠- Call 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri)

App: ⁠StayAlive ⁠- provides quick access to crisis helplines, support and guidance

App: ⁠distrACT ⁠- provides techniques and advice on avoiding self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Amazon Music
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page

Get in touch

Send us a voice message
...more
19min
September 25, 2023 Why mental strength matters: Francis Benali MBE
Having spent 20 years on the books at Southampton Football Club, Francis 'Franny' Benali has rightly earned ‘legend’ status amongst Saints fans.
Since retiring, however, he has gone on to raise over £1.4million for charity by undertaking three ultra endurance challenges that pushed his mind and body beyond breaking point. In our exclusive interview, Franny talks about the mental strength needed to dedicate yourself to football and to take on seemingly impossible challenges.
Convinced that there is something we can all learn by living outside of our comfort zone, his advice could help us all to reconsider what we value and how we view our own mental wellbeing.
Show outline:
00:00:00 - 00:03:41 - Welcome and introduction
00:03:46 - 00:12:07 - Becoming a grandad and early childhood
00:12:08 - 00:19:48 - Determination to succeed
00:20:00 - 00:30:14 - Highs and lows
00:30:21 - 00:44:27 - Life after football
00:44:29 - 00:56:12 - The challenge that broke me
00:56:13 - 00:58:46 - Outside your comfort zone
Useful links:
Francis Benali MBE official website
Franny’s Facebook
Franny’s Twitter
Franny’s Instagram
Franny’s LinkedIn
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Amazon Music
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on the Spotify episode page
Get in touch
Send us a voice message
Full transcription:Click HERE to read the full show transcript.
...more
1h 1min
September 10, 2023 How to overcome adversity: Alex Staniforth
A motivational speaker, charity founder, endurance athlete and all round nice guy, it’s hard to believe that Alex Staniforth has battled poor mental health his whole life. Bullied at school after being diagnosed with epilepsy and living with a lifelong stammer, he has lived with anxiety and depression, as well as enduring panic attacks and battling an eating disorder.
However, a teenage passion for the outdoors provided Alex with a focus and drive that twice took him to Everest in pursuit of a dream to become one of the youngest Britons ever to climb the world’s tallest mountain. Along the way, he was challenged physically and mentally, at home and under tragic circumstances while in Nepal.
Today, Alex continues to challenge himself in the most extreme of ways and has ploughed his considerable energies into founding a charity to help others overcome poor mental health, by taking them up some of the UK’s most challenging mountains.
Alex’s story is one of passion and determination, of facing fear, overcoming adversity and discovering unexpected mental strength. Listen to it in his own words on The Brave Front.
Show outline:
00:00:00 - 00:03:45 - Welcome and introduction
00:03:53 - 00:07:17 - Meet Alex
00:07:53 - 00:13:29 - Childhood, growing up, facing bullying at school
00:13:38 - 00:18:00 - Discovering the great outdoors, a paragliding breakthrough
00:18:10 - 00:33:49 - Stepping outside your comfort zone, Mount Everest, escaping death
00:33:58 - 00:40:00 - Mind Over Mountains, launching a mental health charity
00:40:26 - 00:48:06 - Alex’s mental health today and the future
Useful links:
You can find out more about Alex on his website
You can follow Alex on X
As well as on Instagram
And you can find out all about Alex’s charity on the excellent Mind over Mountains website.
Share the show:
If you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Brave Front, you can share it through any of the following links:
Our Linktree site (for links to all the podcast platforms): linktr.ee/thebravefront
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Amazon Music
Interact with the show:
Answer our episode question on your mobile via Spotify app episode page
Get in touch
Send us a voice message
Full transcription:
Click here for a full transcription of the show
...more
50min

FAQs about The Brave Front:

How many episodes does The Brave Front have?

The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.